Former P.J. city clerk gets probation for tampering with records charge

Former Pacific Junction city clerk Kari Leann Williams of Glenwood has pleaded guilty to tampering with records, an aggravated misdemeanor.

The Mills County Attorney’s Office said the charges stemmed from an incident that occurred while Williams was employed as city clerk. The incident was brought to light during an audit of the city’s finances and records conducted by the Iowa State Auditor’s Office.

Following her plea, Williams, 43, was granted a deferred judgment by Mills County District Court Judge James Heckerman and ordered to serve one year of probation. She was assessed a $625 civil penalty and ordered to pay court costs.

First-degree theft and felonious misconduct charges against Williams have been dismissed.

During their investigation of Pacific Junction finances, state auditors said they identified nearly $32,000 in improper disbursements Williams had made from city accounts from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2013. The investigation also identified $74,000 in liability to the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid payroll taxes, penalties and interest, according to a report from Iowa State Auditor Mary Mosiman. The audit report released also identified a lack of fiduciary oversight by Pacific Junction City Council members.